MONTREAL, May 21, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - A national survey conducted by
Léger Marketing highlights that one quarter of Canadians who suffer
from allergies will wait until their symptoms become unbearable before
seeking treatment, while half of Canadians will wait up to 24 hours
before seeking relief. The survey also shows that 17% of Canadians do
not seek any treatment, choosing instead to tolerate their discomfort.

The survey, conducted by Leger on behalf of Merck, manufacturer of
Claritin®, polled 1500 adult Canadians, coast to coast.

An "allergy", such as allergic rhinitis, is a sensitivity of the immune
system to something that is ordinarily harmless, such as pollen. When
the body tries to get rid of the "allergen" (foreign substance), one
will experience allergy symptoms. Typical allergens include pets,
pollen, house dust and mold.

Common allergy symptoms can include sneezing, runny nose and itchy
watery eyes, and can get in the way of people's everyday lives -
impacting sleep, performance at work and other daily activities.

Impact of allergies on daily life
Approximately one third of the allergy sufferers polled said allergies
affect their mood, while one third said allergies lead to feeling more
fatigue. Other significant consequences referenced in the poll include
lack of energy (26%), limited recreational activities (19%), missing
out on fun outdoor activities (15%), decreased interest in school and
work (10%), disrupts in sporting activities (10%) and negative effects
on romance (9%).

A proactive approach to relieving allergy symptoms
According to the survey, 80% of Canadians who suffer from allergies
understand what triggers them, yet do not take a proactive approach to
relieving symptoms.

"The good news is there are ways to help manage allergies and relieve
symptoms", said Dr. Marie-Josee Francoeur. "Know what triggers your
allergies, get some advice to avoid them as much as possible, and be
prepared with an appropriate treatment," she said.

Adopt new habits to reduce exposure to allergy triggers and reduce
impact of allergy symptoms:

Beat the clock: Peak pollen production can occur in early morning, so
try to plan outside activities at other times of the day.

Wash wisely: If you are going to be outside, it's a good idea to shower
and wash your hair when you return indoors to remove the pollen, which
can be an allergy trigger. This prevents pollen from being transferred
to your furniture and linens.

Check the forecast: People with seasonal allergies, should check for
pollen counts in their area. Pollen levels can vary day-to-day
depending upon several factors, including the weather.

Consult an online Pollen report or download a mobile pollen report
application to judge the pollen count in a region.

Léger Marketing methodology
The survey was completed online from January 14th to January 31st, 2013 using Léger Marketing's OmniWeb with a sample of 1,500 Canadians
aged 18+. Survey results were weighted based on age, language, gender,
and region, in order to ensure sample representation.

About Merck
Merck is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well.
Merck is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. Through our
medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and consumer and animal
products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries
to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our
commitment to increasing access to healthcare through far-reaching
policies, programs and partnerships. For more information about our
operations in Canada, visit www.merck.ca.